Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate LLC franchises real estate sales offices that offer residential real estate brokerage services, commercial real estate services, and limited property management services under the CENTURY 21® brand and system. Franchisees, typically owners of existing brokerages or new startups, pay initial franchise fees (e.g., $25,000 standard) and ongoing fees to access branding, marketing, training, referrals, and operational support. The target market includes real estate brokers serving residential and commercial buyers, sellers, and property owners in the U.S.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty (min. $500/mo if applicable) + 0.5% BMF + $1,000-$3,000/yr software maintenance
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How Century 21 Real Estate Compares
Key Insights
- #2 largest franchise system in Real Estate Brokerage
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Real Estate Brokerage
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Century 21 Real Estate Current | $35K – $279K | $25K | 6.0% | 1,734 |
| Century 21 Real Estate LLC | $35K – $279K | $25K | 6.0% | 1,734 |
| SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY | $46K – $325K | $25K | 6.0% | 666 |
| ERA | $33K – $260K | $25K | 6.0% | 444 |
| ERA | $33K – $260K | $25K | 6.0% | 444 |
| REALTY ONE GROUP | $47K – $228K | $25K | 0.0% | 410 |
Real Estate Brokerage Average 20 franchises | $48K – $296K | $26K | 5.4% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 20 Real Estate Brokerage franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+36 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Century 21 Real Estate franchisees (2010 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
1,977 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
1,977 Contacts Available
Unlock all Century 21 Real Estate franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Primarily breach of contract disputes involving franchise agreements, royalty rates, confidentiality provisions, and post-termination claims with franchisees and former franchisees.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a Century 21 Real Estate franchise ranges from $34,670 to $279,000. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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